[CHAR] Yasuragiha: The Blades of Peace

[Takashi]

Ayane

Name: Ayane

Race: Kitsune

Age: 103

Gender: Female

Appearance: Ayane is a lithe and slender girl with elegant movements and a bright smile. However, her face can contort into a fox-like snarl with sharp fangs and glowing gold eyes when she is angered. Her talisman is an earring with a leaf ornament that hangs from her left ear. While she appears delicate on the outside, she is a dangerous creature, far stronger than any normal human.

Human Form

Fox Form

Skills: Instinctual Fighting - While Ayane does not have training in the martial arts, she possesses keen fighting instincts. She relies on her agility and reflexes to avoid strikes, and her offense consists mostly of swift slashes and lunges. She is also capable of complex acrobatics which she can use to make her style erratic and unpredictable.

Forager – Ayane has lived in the woods for most of her life and knows how to live off the land. She knows which plants and berries are edible, medicinal, and poisonous. She also knows how to hunt using her natural abilities, and will seldom be in want of anything in the woods.

Seductress – When the mood strikes her, Ayane is skilled in seducing men and women alike. She can come across as mature and alluring, innocent and adorable, or even wild and adventurous. She’s also rather good at holding her liquor and intoxicating her playmates.

Powers: Kitsune Physiology – As a fox spirt, Ayane is faster, stronger, and more durable than she appears. Her physical prowess is on par with that of a highly trained human warrior. She also has heightened senses of smell and hearing, and can see better in the dark than a human can.

Feather Foot – Ayane has the ability to land silently, move with ease over rough terrain, and can even walk on water. She uses this ability casually in her day to day affairs, giving her a graceful presence.

Will o’ the Wisp – Ayane can summon tiny blue flames and control them at will. These flames can be used as a guide or signal to companions, and stories speak of such flames guiding travelers through forests, but they also have another use. Ayane can channel any number of her senses through one of these flames and use them to spy on enemies.

Foxfire – The fearsome magic unique to the kitsune. Ayane can summon a blue flame that burns with both heat and holy energy. The flame is especially effective against malevolent spirits and those with wicked hearts, but will burn any material as a normal flame would regardless.

Weapons/Equipment: Claws – Ayane’s claws are as sharp as blades and as durable as steel. ‘Nuff said.

Hoshi no Tama – The “star ball” that all kitsune possess. It is a small glass ball that is the source of Ayane’s magical powers. She generally keeps it stored away inside her gut (she is capable of swallowing and regurgitating it at will). However, if she entrusts the orb to another, that person can use it to call on her and she will appear before them, no matter where else she is at the time. If she entrusts her star ball to another, she cannot take it back by force; it must be given back to her willingly. In addition, the person who holds it can restrict her powers at will. So, it is a huge sign of trust to let another being hold it; thus far, none have earned that privilege.

Bio: Ayane is a cheerful girl, eager to talk and make new friends. She is still a bit ignorant of the ways of humans, and has a loose sense of morality, but she ultimately has a good heart. Some people consider her clingy and annoying, but once she decides she likes you, it will be hard to find a more loyal friend.

Ayane was a wanderer for most of her life. She left her parent’s care as soon as they taught her how to fend for herself and use her magic, and she hasn’t see them since, though she does remember them fondly. She hopped from forest to forest, acting mostly benevolently to the travelers she encountered, however she soon grew bold and would sneak into towns and villages to cause all kinds of minor mischief. All in good fun of course.

Her antics eventually gained the attention of the guild, which only received reports of her pranks and considered her a menace, and so a team of hunters was sent after her. Ayane didn’t believe she had done anything wrong, and hadn’t expected the guild to come after her. She was injured in their first attack, but managed to elude them for some time.

The leader of the team, Kenzo, eventually managed to coax her out peacefully. Ayane was frightened and exhausted, but agreed to accept the brand and stop harassing villages. Kenzo was impressed by her abilities though, and recommended that she join them in the guild. Ayane was hesitant at first, wanting a carefree life, but eventually decided that it would be good to help her fellow spirits by convincing them to accept the brand and stopping malevolent spirits from giving her kind a bad name.

Kenzo

Name: Kenzo Akugami

Race: Human

Age: 25

Gender: Male

Appearance: Kenzo is a muscular man that generally wears a stern expression. He has seen many battles and thus has scars all over his body, and a couple on his face.

Kenzo

Skills: Akugami-ryu - The style of martial arts taught and practiced by Kenzo’s family. It teaches both unarmed combat and swordsmanship. The unarmed style is similar to karate, focusing on a sturdy defense and powerful strikes with the upper body. The sword style focuses on breaking through enemy defenses with powerful slashes. It is a particularly aggressive style.

Iaijutsu – The art of the quickdraw attack. While Kenzo is willing to negotiate with his enemies, he is not willing to let them walk away from an unsuccessful negotiation. He can deliver a lethal slash with his iaijutsu from either a standing or sitting position, and has refined his speed through years of practice. Often, he will pretend to offer a negotiation and sheath his blade simply to get his enemy into the range of his iaijutsu.

Spirit Scholar – Kenzo has extensively studied the abilities and habits of all kinds of spirits, making him highly knowledgeable in detecting, tracking, and combating them.

Powers: Kenzo has shown no aptitude for any kind of magical abilities, and so relies entirely on his skills and tools.

Weapons/Equipment: Yousatsugai – A katana inscribed with holy symbols, making it particularly effective against spirits.

Spirit Hunting Tools - Kenzo carries on him a variety of tools and weapons that he uses for a variety of situations.

Serrated Kunai - Throwing knives with a jagged edge designed to induce bleeding upon impact. Kenzo carries a dozen of these.

Razor Wire – A razor sharp metal string. It is unwieldy in combat, but it can be used tactically to set up deadly traps or subdue enemies. Kenzo carries a spool of 100ft.

Stink Bombs - Acrid and unpleasant to humans, but to spirits with an enhanced sense of smell they are nauseating and debilitating. Kenzo carries six of these.

Clawed Gloves – Gloves with a set of small curved blades extending from the palm. Useful for climbing
sheer cliffs and can also be used as a close range weapon.

Black Eggs – Hollowed out eggs filled with ground glass and chili powder. Great for blinding and unsuspecting opponent. Kenzo carries six of these.

Bio: Kenzo is a serious and driven young man who is always striving to improve his abilities. He has worked in the guild for 10 years and often looks down on newcomers until they prove their strength. He is quick to draw his sword on hunts, and has virtually no sympathy for those spirits who refuse to accept the brand. Even to those that comply, Kenzo remains distant, and his respect is difficult to earn.

His aggressive attitude is likely the result of his bloodstained past. When he was a child, his family ran a fairly successful dojo. He was far from a model student, sneaking away and slacking off when he could, but that all changed when a cloaked man challenged their dojo.

At first, a couple of students stepped forward to defend the dojo, only to be swiftly defeated, but then the cloaked man delivered a fatal blow. Kenzo’s father jumped in and delivered what should have been a finishing slash, but the cloaked man simply grinned and felled the master of the dojo in a single strike. Kenzo, filled with rage, charged at the man, but he disappeared in a plume of feathers; a spirit in disguise.

From that day forward, Kenzo devoted himself to training to defeat spirits. He conditioned his body, honed is skills, and sharpened his mind, then joined with the guild as soon as he was able.

[Rune_Alchemist]

Miya

Appearance:

Miya

Miya stands an fairly tall 5'9", weighing in at around 135lbs in her human form. She has white hair and bright blue eyes.

Normally, she wields one of two katanas. Which Katana she uses, will usually decide her fighting style for the fight and she can switch in the middle of a fight, should she need too.

In her standard 'spirit form', she stands at an imposing 6'3, much taller than most men, and weighing in at around 150lbs. Her normally bright blue eyes take a darker color. Two long, sharp horns extend from her forehead, reaching about four inches in length. She also develops claws sharp enough to be used as weapons themselves.

Name:

Saika, Miyano. Prefers Miya.

Race:

Oni.

Age:

20

Gender:
Female

Skills:
Miya has been studying sword techniques and sword styles for most of her life. She is quite adept at two different sword styles, and is working on mastering them.

Whispering Gale Blade:
This style, used with a single light sword, or two smaller swords is a style of sword fighting designed around quick footwork and light strikes. Focusing on parrying and redirecting an enemies strike. An aggressive fighting style, where one actively and relentlessly attacks a target, overwhelming them with a furious offensive.

Piercing Stone Blade:
For use with larger weapons, it is the form she employs while using 'Akaiittou'. This style is designed to be for fighting heavily armored foes. Powerful, but quick and devastating strikes consisting mostly of thrusts designed to stun and pierce armor. A slower form, where one must use their strength, balance, and strategy equally well - missing a strike means she'd be wide open.

Aside from her sword skills, she is a fairly decent blacksmith and Armor smith. She can craft some fairly decent blades and armor if she has the right materials.

Terrible at cooking.

Drinks. A lot. Don't leave her and Alcohol alone.

Powers:
Miya isn't real big on using magic or things like that. Being an Oni, she could probably just power through things with sheer strength or physical endurance and stubbornness. However, she is adept at channeling the negative and positive energies of Yin and Yang through her body.

Or at least, is practicing. Currently, she can only channel Yin, effectively.

Duality of Nature: Suppression.
This is her at a 'resting' state. She actively suppresses the energies in this form. It offers no bonuses, in fact it acts as a limiter for her impressive strength and physical abilities she has as an Oni. It basically keeps her to a realm of nearly top-human strength and agility. It was the first thing the old swordsman taught her to control.

For one, it makes it easier for her to blend in with humans, without her having to constantly watch her strength.

Two, instead of relying on an Oni's natural strength for such things, she'd have to actually learn swordsmanship, and practice proper forms instead of blundering through everything.

Three, she was taught an overwhelming victory is cheap. She may be strong, and can shatter boulders with sheer physical strength, but where is the meaning in such victory?

She can remove this limiter easily, and usually does against non-human opponents if she can not beat them with it.

Duality of Nature: Yin
Yin is defined as the negative energies of the universe. She stops suppressing the 'Yin' energy, while keeping the 'Yang' suppressed. She channels it, using her body as a vessel for it, gaining a minor increase in physical strength, but a great increase in agility and speed. Additionally, she gains the ability to channel this energy out of her body to an extent. However, she's not all that adept at using it for such things.

It is the form she uses the most, and the one she's the most skilled at.

Current 'Yin' abilities:

Abilities

-Black Water Blade: This form, she mostly makes use of her faster, lighter Wakizashi, Makaze. This form is best suited to astonishingly fast, but light attacks designed to confuse and cripple an enemy into submission. Devastating counters, and fast quick, crippling strikes and combos are what this form mostly consists of. She can also extend the length of her blade by few inches, by channeling the negative energy through it.

It's a more passive form, in which one waits for the opponent to make a move.

Rule one of this form: Getting hit with anything means you need more practice.

-Black Water Burst:
Pouring as much energy as she can into her blade, she can cause a small, localized explosion of negative energy at the end of her blade. The blast radius isn't all that large, but it definitely packs enough of a punch to knock most people off their feet and seriously injure them.

-Black Mountain Blade:
She can employ her Katana, Akaiittou, in this form as well. However, being the large cumbersome blade that it is, it hardly gains any sort of advantage while using it. Aside from her standard forms and attacks when using this, she gains no advantage and has no specific form to use for it, so she defaults to her normal fighting style.

-Black Earth Eruption:
However, by pouring the negative energy into the blade she can slam it into the ground, pouring the energy into the earth and causing a small, localized earthquake that cracks and disrupts the terrain in the immediate area.

Duality of Nature: Yang
Currently, she has almost zero mastery over this form and can only sustain it for a few minutes. However, in this form her physical strength and endurance skyrockets to levels even other Oni's would have trouble dealing with, with a minor increase to agility and speed. This form, is incredibly taxing on her at the moment and she's currently trying to maintain it for longer than a minute or two.

Abilities to be gained later

-insert skills here

Oni Strength & Endurance:
Being an Oni, means that when she's in top form, she's physically stronger than most mortals could possibly ever hope to be. Even in her resting state with her limiters, she's fairly strong and could give even the strongest humans a run for their money.

Weapons/Equipment:
Makaze - a standard side sword. It has a blue sheathe, and the blade has a bluish tint to it. Often, she wields it one-handed. She forged it herself, and is her preferred blade.

Akaiittou - A large, heavy katana that one would need fairly good strength to wield effectively. One would need to be able to wield it with two hands even then, to make full use of the blade. A gift from her mentor before he left for the western world.

Her armor, which she crafted out of the bones of a young sea dragon she killed alongside her mentor.

Keeps a carving knife on her. She likes carving.

Bio:
Personality:
A bit on the quiet side, Miya doesn't really talk much except those she's close too. Which is really kind of only a handful of people. She can come off as a little cold, and perhaps a little aloof. But that's merely simply because she doesn't think words mean too much in the grand scheme of things. That said, she's not afraid of dishing out insults and berating someone for some 'stupid' or 'foolish' behavior.

Among friends though, she's surprisingly chatty, and likes teasing her friends. Still, talking isn't really her forte and unless spoken too she will usually keep her mouth shut.

Which means sometimes, she can fumble with her words quite a bit, since she tends to think before she speaks.

A rule of thumb though, in battle she speaks very little else then what is necessary.

-History-

Miya's life isn't a terribly interesting one. Indeed, she's rather young for a spirit and hasn't even been around all that long. Her parents were killed by some traveling swordsman, who took her in after killing them. Of course, her parents had also been some rather bad spirits. They led a small band of Oni who really, really, didn't like the guild and it's policies.

Still, he took her in and eventually he taught her the way of the sword. First he taught her how to control the 'Negative' and 'Positive' energies of the universe, that is, Yin and Yang, and how she can suppress her Oni strength.

She learned the value of honor, honesty, and loyalty over the years, and learned how to wield her sword effectively in combat. Soon enough, however, after she turned 17, he left for the west leaving her to find her own path.

That was three years ago, and she recently joined up with the guild, and intends to further her own strength and abilities while fighting those spirits who would bring harm to others.

[Rekaigan]

Nemu, The only cat here

Nekomata Form

Human Form

He retains his extremely long, prehensile tail. His brand is in the form of a Pendant

Name:

Nekoni, Nemu

Race:

Nekomata

Age:

25

Gender:

Male

Appearance:

Cat form: He is about 3’9” and weighs about 40lbs. (Refer to image for everything else)
Human form: He is about 5'9" and weighs about 150lbs

Skills:

Like any other cat, Nemui has extremely good balance and will always land on his feet. He’s quite agile despite being a magic-user.

Nemu is quite good at sewing and cooking, just a few skills he picked up during his travels.

He's an expert in taking naps.

Powers:

Nemu practices magic like any other mage, however he practices Tsukuru作る (Written Magic). This magic is extremely powerful, however it’s a lot slower than most. Tsukuru is the manipulation of words that hold magical power. It is very much like writing instructions for the elements rather than manipulating them through the mind.

Because of this, Written magic is a lot more potent that normal magic due to the fact that it’s the manipulation of Void(空) rather than the manipulation of the regular elements.

However, Nemu is still considered a novice in this type of magic and can only give the lower level instructions when using his magic. Despite this, he’s still quite powerful, but when he’s writing, he cannot move. (He writes into the air in front of him, and it appears as ethereal symbols from his finger tips.

Currently he is only able to write the element and a basic form. So for example, Fire-ball or Ice shard. He cannot put any other descriptors to his magic.. yet. (A higher level would be 'Flaming Hurricane Wheel of Eruption'.) Essentially, his magic is reliant upon his ability to think of adjectives on the fly. He is able to use all the elements (Fire, Water, Air and Earth).

In his human form, his magical power is slightly weaker, but he makes up for that by gaining a significant amount of physical strength. Thus allowing him to utilize his sword. However, his skill with it is lackluster.

Weapons/Equipment:

Nemu holds a sword (As shown in the image), but he can’t use the sword. It’s an enchanted sword that he given from his family to help him with his travels. Unsheathing the sword does nothing out of the ordinary, but when sheathed, it radiates magical energy by itself. The sword is bond to Nemu and serves as a conduit for his power. Almost all of Nemu's spells will materialize via the sword.

Bio:

Nemu was born into the Nekoni family which is part of a tribe of Nekomata. The reason why Nekomata don’t live within the city or near the guild is because many people are against the very existence of Nekomata. However laws have been passed that prevent people from openly attacking the Nekomata, as they have proven to be a very peaceful race of Yokai(Demon). But this hasn’t really mended the divide between the cats and humans.

The name ‘Nemu’ literally means ‘Drowsiness’ which was given to him for that exact reason. He’s a very sleepy cat. He loves his naps and enjoys them the most in a nice soft patch of grass or on someone’s lap.

From a young age, Nemu was introduced to the Nekoni family’s magic, Written Magic. The Nekoni family was extremely studious, having their own library within the tribe, which was quite uncommon for tribes.. After many years of study, he (with his family’s approval) decided to join the Guild. His parents thought it’d be a good experience for him, giving him the chance to hone his magic and learn more about the world. However it had taken a toll of his overall personality.

Nemu is often very placid, and cool headed, but in the many years that he had spent travelling, he learned many things about his place in the world. Nekomata’s are shunned, despite the law that passed. This led to his distrust in humans and he will almost always believe that they harbour ill-intent toward him and his kind, no matter how nice the human appears to be. He is a lot more comfortable being around other demons and non-humans though.

He often uses his human form to interact with others, since it's just easier that way. He will change into Nekomata form during missions and fights.

Nemu doesn’t really have any other goals other than becoming a master of his own magic. Since he doesn’t really count ‘making friends’ and ‘having fun’ as goals. He just thinks of them as things he’d like to do.

[Ashifili]

A True Hero Has Taken The Stage!

Qing-Li Xue

---

Race: Human
Age: 16
Gender: Female
Appearance: 5’3 and 117 lbs, Qing-Li is lithe and slender, giving the impression of a dancer instead of a martial artist. She moves gracefully, flowing like water, but can switch on a dime to attain the sharp exactness of steel or the unyielding hardness of earth. Like others of the Harmonic-Cycle Fist, Qing-Li dyes her hair the same color as the first form that she started in; brown for Earth. Though she wears most of her school’s clothing, as a user of the Cloth Spear, Qing-Li also has a rather long scarf that she drapes around her neck, and her travels has seen the girl replace sandals with knee-high boots.

Skills:
Qing-Li, though still young and in training, is a practitioner of the Harmonic-Cycle Fist, a martial art that always one to seamlessly shift through five different forms in order to deal with any situation. As she stands right now, she has learned three forms.

Yellow Dragon – The Earth Form, and the one she’s most confident in. Employs hard blocks, with the intention of damaging the opponent’s ‘weapon’ in a battle of attrition. Primarily defensive, but also has a variety of throws and pins, meant to disable and stun.

White Tiger – The Metal Form, which she impatiently transitions into, because defensive battles are boring. There is a similar focus on ‘hard’ strength with Earth Form, but it takes the form of chops and stabs with an open palm, fingers tightly pressed together. The focus is on a decisive strike, not a combination of attacks. Masters of this form are said to be able to cut through swords with their hands.

Black Tortoise – The Water Form, which Qing-Li generally dislikes using, because it always feels so weak. One’s hands are no longer rigid, like swords, but more relaxed, swaying softly. Strikes are fast but soft, using the enemy’s momentum to add strength. It’s a fighting style centered on redirections that end up in a counter blow, and unlike the brutal takedowns of Earth Form, Water Form is used to disarm and to push people along elsewhere. If it wasn’t for the fact that one must learn their Forms in the order of mutual generation, Qing-Li would have loved to skip it.

Outside of martial arts, Qing-Li knows how to cook simple meals, read, write, and do basic household chores, though she doesn’t necessarily like it. Furthermore, she’s fairly good at relocating limbs, setting bones, and fancies herself as a pretty good shogi player. That last bit, of course, is fairly subjective, as her only strategy is to kill everything.

If eating copious amounts of food without gaining too much weight was a skill, yeah, Qing-Li has that as well. Gods have mercy on the first all-you-can-eat restaurant she finds.

Powers: Like any martial artist worth their salt, Qing-Li is capable of circulating ki through her body, empowering it to superhuman levels. That isn’t enough in a world of magic and spirits, though, and thus, the Harmonic-Cycle fist also teaches several magical skills to complement their martial arts.

Earth-Breaking Stomp – In Earth Form, Qing-Li lifts her leg high up, before stomping down, causing the earth to shake around her and cracking the terrain below her.

Wind-Shearing Blade – In Metal Form, Qing-Li brings her hands to the side, before lashing out like a samurai drawing their katana. A hand-sized ki-blade shoots outwards, at a maximum range of 30 meters, doing the same damage as what she normally would have done.

Full-Moon Fade – In Water Form, Qing-Li’s movements become serpentine and supple, her footwork drastically improving and allowing her to slide in any direction she wants, regardless of how rough the terrain is or how steep the incline is. This can only be maintained for a minute or two, however.

Weapons/Equipment:
Cloth Spear – The scarf Qing-Li wears is her weapon when her fists are not enough. By pushing ki into its fibers, she can control it as if it was an extension of her body and harden it until it becomes as tough and heavy as steel, making it a surprisingly useful weapon. Generally, she uses it when her Wind-Shearing Blades are not enough, or when she needs to make sure that she can tie someone down.

Bio: Qing-Li Xue lead a life that was so simple and plain that it’s honestly rather boring. There were no tragedies in her life, nor any dramatic turning points. As a daughter to a father who never got a son, Qing-Li was trained at an early age to become the successor of the Harmonic-Cycle Fist School, treated as a boy instead of a girl. Her hair was cut short and she never complained about the harsh training she had to endure. An energetic tomboy who wanted to make her father proud, she did her best in everything, whether it be eating dinner with a fervent gusto or meditating so hard under a waterfall that she got a headache from how empty her head was.

As she grew older though, her father came to the conclusion that he was an idiot for keeping his increasingly womanly daughter stuck in a dojo with sweaty young men. Tasking her with the mission of gathering valuable fighting experience, the man sent her off on a cross-continental adventure.

He probably couldn’t have predicted that she’d decide that the best way to gather fighting experience was by joining the Guild and taking on jobs against dangerous, rebellious spirits.

Looks like idiots were born from idiots.

[Delta44]

Shurui Seishin

"I've become tied to this world, somehow. I don't exactly know why, but I think I know what I need to do. That is, I need to stop this from happening to anyone else... the right way." ~ Shurui Seishin

---

Without A Talisman

With A Talisman

Name: Shurui "Suru" Seishin

Race: Yurei - a ghost. Well, more like a skeleton with "ghost skin".

Age: 152

Gender: Cis-white male

Skills:

• Tracker - Being a former member of the police force, Shurui has a remarkable talent for tracking people down, both Spirits and human alike. From following tracks to getting information from people, if it involves finding someone, he can probably get it. This ability has made him quite useful in the eyes of the guild, which he would rather not have. Regardless, he's good at finding or tracking people.
• People Skills - Shurui has met people of all kinds for the duration of his life and un-life. Thus, he has a lot of experience with all kinds of people. Picking up on things such as lies, hidden messages and guessing what their train of thought is - Shurei has an incredible ability to... understand people. One might call it charisma, though given his personality, it isn't likely.
• Agility - You'd think after death your body would be less nimble, however in the case of our Yurei friend, it's quite the opposite. As a ninja, Shurui has learned how to use his unique body to his advantage. With just a skeleton, Shurui is able to move faster than most, and, when coupled with his reaction time, it's all the more evident. Additionally, some enemies might find their sword simply going straight through him due to him being just a skeleton. He's developed his own fighting style around it, unique to people with similar "conditions" to him. Of course, that means they're very few in number. Regardless, his overall speed and agility is very impressive.
• Lightweight Blades - Because Shurui is just a skeleton, he can't exactly do much heavy lifting. His strength equates roughly to that of a regular teenage girl, as some of the guild members so kindly seem to emphasize. Yet, even if he can't use heavy weapons, he's still incredibly adept with smaller, more nimble weapons, such as daggers, knives, and so-on. He's mostly known for using two knives to almost effortlessly slash and slice small cuts upon his enemies, slowly but effectively killing them.
• Accuracy - As though these weren't enough, our police ninja friend is also incredibly accurate, and has an almost supernatural eyesight. This is probably his most useful asset, and can do well with all the above skills. Also, have you ever seen a man catch a firefly with a throwing star?
• Zombification - Lastly, we have the signature undead ability of odd regeneration. In Shurei's case, if he loses a body part in combat, he has to find the lost part/s and "glue" them back together with a special formula created by one of the member of the guild. Of course, doing this in combat is impossible since it takes time for the glue to set, and it can only be done at the guild.

Powers:

• Light Telekinesis - Shurui can lift light objects off the ground and move them through the air through the use of kinetic magic. Of course, his powers aren't all that strong, since he doesn't quite have as much "presence" as he used to when living, however he can still move things roughly the weight of a kunai and lighter. Of course, he often uses in battle, though mostly it's used because he's lazy.
• Unknown Magic - This is something Shurui has only just recently come to learn, however he has managed through his telekinesis to manipulate his spirit to create some kind of... energy. Now he hasn't gotten this energy to a sufficient level of mastery yet, and using even a little bit of it often leaves him on his knees exhausted, however he hopes in future he can master it. Though, the fact that it's only left a light burn on wood at best isn't exactly getting his hopes up...

Weapons/Equipment:

• Daggers x2 - Kept within his forearms for easy access, Shurui has two sharp, lightweight and deadly knives that remain as his primary weapons when engaging in combat. Coupled with his speed, these are often the most deadly...
• Kunai x8/Shuriken x4 - Of course, he can't always rely on those little daggers to do everything, and so he has eight kunai and four shuriken located in various places in his body. Due to him being a skeleton, he can basically access at least one of these kunai/shuriken almost anytime.
• One-handed Sword - This sword usually stays on his back, however sometimes you need a sword to deal with things. It's a short, thin blade that's almost as sharp as his daggers. Shurei requires two hands to effectively wield it, however even so he still retains quite a bit of nimbleness when using it.
• Crossbow - The final weapon in his arsenal of weapons: a crossbow. This weapon comes with ten bolts and one roped bolt (a bolt that has a rope attached - for climbing), and is often used when Shurei doesn't want to get too close and doesn't want to be detected in combat, however it still works quite well when facing an aware opponent. The only trouble is reloading the crossbow can't be done in combat because of the tight drawstring. That crossbow has caused lots of arm parts to go missing... well, before being re-found and re-attached, that is.

Disadvantages:

• Weakness To Magic - All types of magic are dangerously effective against Shurei, and he tries to keep as far away from enemy casters as possible. Seriously, even some of the basic forms of magic can almost kill him due to his fragile state. Therefore, if he were pitted against a powerful mage... he'd be screwed.
• Weakness To Big Weapons - Now Shurei has learned how to dodge enemy attacks rather well, which has allowed him to survive quite well. However, one hit from something as simple as a large katana can do some major damage. Though he won't exactly "die", he won't be able to do anything if he lost his skeleton. All it would take is one good stomp on his skull to wipe him from the physical world...
• Lack of Senses - Though most would consider this to be a good thing, it really isn't in Shurei's case. He no longer has a sense of touch, smell, and taste. In response to this, his hearing, sight and sixth sense have developed further, however they don't exactly help when you lose both your arms without even realising it.
• Psyche - Though not as prominent as the other weaknesses, Shurei is still vulnerable to mental attack. Though he doesn't suffer from anything really serious, if he spots a woman who looks like his now dead wife, it triggers something of a weak panic attack. Mental trauma is a serious problem.

Bio: A long time ago, in an age since past, there lived a man. This man was a warrior - an enforcer of the law; he was a well-respected and well-loved policeman. He would catch both human and spirit criminals alike, and was known well throughout the quaint little mountain town in which he and his newlywed wife lived. Things were progressing well: he'd just been promoted, and he and his wife were talking about the possibility of a child. His life, up until now, was filled with rather innocent adventure. This policeman had rarely seen gore in his life!

And that's why he was so appalled when he saw the brutally disfigured carcass of...

... himself.

This man had been killed by an angry Spirit. Yet, he was still alive! Somewhat, that is. You see, this man had become a Yurei - a ghost. He wasn't quite sure why, however for some reason, something was holding him back to the physical world - something was stopping him from going to the afterlife with his wife. Something was holding him back, and it took him many years to figure out just what it could be, exactly. He researched a multitude of sources, trying to figure out just how it would happen.

And then he figured it out. "If I want to move on, I need to make sure others don't get put into the same position as I did..." That 'position' would be the hunt that had been initiated unto this man. Humans don't exactly take kindly to Spirits in plain sight, and when you walk around as a skeleton in dark clothes, well... it's hard to convince people otherwise. And so, whilst on the run, our friend tried to protect as many Spirits as he could identify, however... he couldn't quite swing a sword like he used to. Hell, the man could barely pick one up to start with! He quickly made sense of the situation: lives would be lost if he couldn't learn to fight with his new... 'condition'.

Thus, he turned to the outcasts of Spirit society for a tutor, or someone who could better his strength. Surprisingly, it was a Yurei like him who taught him the ways of the ninja. Though he despised it at first, since he was a samurai for the law, the man soon began to appreciate all the wise Spirit was teaching him. He learned many things from the yurei, however there came a time where the man simply couldn't find the old spirit. The ghost had left, though whether it was because he had completed his reason for living, or because the spirit itself was too old, the man didn't know. However, with these new found skills, the man soon began protecting people again - Spirit and human alike. All the while he was still avoiding authorities.

Time passed on, and as it did, the man's experience grew. He learned how to better himself in both combat and simple socialising, and developed a kind-hearted yet somewhat mysterious persona as time progressed. Though eventually there came a time where mysteriousness and keeping to the shadows wasn't needed. The Brand made the man human again, at least mostly; and opposite effect in comparison to all other spirits. His 'crimes' of being a Spirit were redacted, and the man no longer had to hide from people.

And pretty soon, the Guild came along, too.

It was a place that suited his ideals perfectly. He found himself becoming a member within it's relatively early stages, completing jobs generally for the sake of others. His selfless attitude and ability to complete many quests without resorting to violence has earned him the title of "Kindred Spirit" amongst some of the guild members. Though, he is still quite formidable in combat, due to his ninja training. The man continues working hard to this day for the guild, simply doing his best for everyone else. As you might've guessed, this man's name is:

"Shurui Seishin."

[Ogo]

Gramps

_{Art by: fabianrensch}

The Humble Merchant

---

Name:

The elderly man goes by many names. The Merchant. Mr. Smiles. Old Man. But most of the younger people in the guild simply refer to him as Gramps, with which he seems to be fine. He abandoned his real name long, long ago, before even joining the guild. If he even remembers it, he’s not inclined to share.

Race:

Human

Age:

Somewhere in his seventies or eighties, probably. Gramps stopped keeping track of this around the time he gave up his name.

Gender:

Male

Appearance:

In a world of extraordinary people, Gramps seems to simply be...well… extra ordinary. He stands at about five foot four inches. As for weight, he seems a bit pudgy, but not unhealthy. His skin is like rough leather, hanging off his body in places where gravity and time have taken their toll. His hair relocated from his head to various places on his body. His chest. His back. His nose. His ears. His eyebrows. Really, just about anywhere except for chin and scalp. Go figure.

His clothing is rather unassuming as well: simple trousers or robes. Really, anything light is a plus. The man tends to travel on foot quite often, carrying his wares with him. The last thing he needs is heavy clothing on top of all the other weight. For footwear, it depends on the region. Usually he’ll either go barefoot or with sandals, but if it’s particularly cold or wet, simple leather boots will do.

Of course, anyone that knows the man knows that regardless of what he’s wearing, Gramps is going to have two things. His incredibly oversized, well-crafted pack and the conical hat, slightly rounded at the top, with plain blue cloth hanging around the sides to protect his head from the weather. And the damn pom-pom at the top. Don’t ask him about it. Really. He’ll just smile that annoying smile of his and not answer. It’s annoying.

Skills:

Barter - A merchant by trade, Gramps is no stranger to the art of bartering. He always seems to end up on the better side of a deal, whether he’s buying or selling. After all, who’d expect a sweet old man to be swindling them? Of course, this requires Gramps to be excellent at reading, writing, and mathematics. And outside of his handwriting becoming a bit worse with the years, and his eyes having a bit more trouble making out the letters on the page, his mind hasn’t lost it’s edge.

Negotiation - Related to his bartering skills, Gramps has no trouble transferring his skill to nonbusiness situations. His experience with people over the years have given him a good sense of how far he can push people before they push back. And, y’know, throw in a lie or two and everything’s golden. If there’s something that he needs to have or wants to know, Gramps is going to get it. One way or another.

Toxic Knowledge - Gramps has an intricate knowledge of various poisons, their effects, their application, their antidotes, etc. ...what? Thought this was just a feeble old man? In Yasuragiha? C’mon, now…

Human Anatomy - The old man also knows quite a bit about the human body. How it works, what it can withstand, what it cannot. It’s strengths. It’s weaknesses. He knows very well how to keep a body going...or…

Assassination - ...how to break it. Gramps may in fact just be a feeble old man. He moves a bit slower than he used to, and his body isn’t as strong as it may have been once. As such, he’s not likely to engage in combat in the traditional sense. His battlefield is one of minds, rather than arms. But should he fail to get what he needs, or if it is required of him, he knows how to take a life without said life knowing what is happening. Poison is his preferred method of execution, but if need be, more barbarian methods can be employed. A knife in the back. A fire under the bed. Use your imagination. Now, while Gramps has plenty of experience ending human lives, spirits are a different game altogether. Many of them shrug off his poisons, and he cannot engage them up front… but sometimes all one needs to do is get creative. Ohohoho~

Espionage - Gramps has a knack for seeing or hearing things he shouldn’t be privy to. Many people tend to overlook the harmless old man, as either a simple merchant, a useless drunk, or what have you. The man has an honest gift for hiding in plain sight. Though not everything can be attributed to being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes he’s got to get people to talk. Lies, drinks, and a harmless appearance do wonders there. Whatever the old man must do to get the information, he will do, regardless of the moral or ethical implications. Information is power, worth far more than any simple trinket.

Sabotage - Not quite as relevant in his current line of work, especially with his age, but Gramps in his earlier days had a way with getting himself into places of power when working on assignments. And from there, he was able to shut down a lot of resistance towards the guild, enabling other guild agents to work more efficiently in certain less accepting regions. Nowadays, he’s usually a bit more restricted, for obvious reasons. Not that he’s lost his touch. Spreading lies or misinformation can be effective too. And inciting an uprising or riot is always a blast. After all, who needs to fight with a hidden spirit when one can simply turn all of their friends, neighbors, and loved ones against them, giving them no option but to go with the guild?

Powers:

Magic? Spirits? Too flashy for his line of work. After all, Gramps is just a simple old man. He never picked up any tricks as a young lad, and now well...he’ll just leave the theatrics to the younger folks.

Weapons/Equipment:

Various Poisons - Gramps always carries a number of different nasty substances with him. Great tools, those poisons. Incredibly effective, and easily concealable. Not all of them are lethal or dangerous though. Many are, but just as many serve more mundane purposes. Sleep-inducing toxins and basic anesthetics are in his arsenal as well. Gotta be prepared, no? And some friendly advice: if he is after you, don’t piss him off. He’s the one that decides whether to use the quick, silent, painless poison, or the agonizing shit that’ll cause the skin to peel off, the organs to boil, all over the course of days. Now granted, the more effective stuff usually needs to be ingested or injected, but the man will find a way if need be.

Knife - If push comes to shove, Gramps does usually carry a knife somewhere on his body. It’s a last resort, obviously. It’s looks every bit a simple knife used as cutlery. It’s just...much, much sharper. If he’s resorted to using the knife, he’s probably not too happy, though.

Bio:

Anyone that meets Gramps will quickly learn that he’s an alright fella. Always smiling, seeming so jolly, calm, and carefree. A kind and caring paternal figure towards the little ones, a silly drinking buddy for the older ones, and much to the chagrin to the older ladies, a bit of a lecherous old man. Of course, even that’s simply done in good jest. Nothing serious about the man, right? Just a harmless old fella hanging around the guild.

…

But those same people have never seen the man in action. That beneath that jolly persona lies a cold, calloused killer that wears the same smile. They’ve never witnessed how cruel and methodical he can be. They’ve never known how easily and effortless he can take a life and not even bat an eye. Of course, there are those in the guild that HAVE worked with the man and HAVE seen the monster in the man. But even those people, having witnessed his actions firsthand, couldn’t say why he is how he is. Any attempt to question his methods, his feelings, or his past is answered with a smile and a joke. It may be frustrating to some, but most have just come to accept this as the norm. After all, he is efficient. Deadly efficient. And if it ain’t broke...

But who exactly IS the man known as Gramps? It’s hard to say, really. He has never stuck with a single name, assuming whatever identity he needs for the mission at hand, and throwing it away just as easily. His age isn’t even much of a clue. He’s old, of course, but he can’t even give an exact number. He’s been with the guild for ages though, but one would need to consult either the Council’s records. Or an older, older spirit, but that can be unreliable, leaving one with just a number of different accounts from a number of different witnesses, and a stubborn old man that refuses to confirm nor deny any of them.

It’s speculated that Gramps was likely an assassin or some sort of political agent in his earlier days, given his particular skillset. If so, it’s odd that he would leave that to work for Yasuragiha. He doesn’t seem to hate spirits. In fact, he acts towards them just as he acts towards anyone else.

But who can really tell what he’s thinking behind that smile?

As far as guild work goes, Gramps doesn’t often undertake assignments that seem likely to involve hostile spirits. Much too troublesome, those. The big, brutal ones he leaves to the younger, rougher crowd. They’re always looking for a fight, so have at it. Now, if he is asked to join, he’ll usually agree. If his talents as a support agent can make a job easier, he’ll gladly jump in, with the understanding that if things come to blows, his allies are on their own. Fighting just isn’t his forte.

No, his speciality lies with the hidden ones. The ones that think they can pass as humans. That simply will not do. Gramps’ success rate with these jobs is staggering. And while he usually works solo, he’s more than willing to take on any curious younger guildie, just to let them observe it. If they can figure it out on their own and learn a thing or two, great. If not, oh well. He’s not going to explain it if they can’t understand.

[Haeo]

Jin Yeong Seonu

Name: Seonu, Jin Yeong

Race: Jade Rabbit / Sansin. Takes after the rabbit side far more.

Age: 83

Gender: Male

Appearance: 3'6" tall and thin with tanned skin and gold eyes, Jin does not cut an impressive figure. His black hair, that would reach to his ankles if it wasn't in a topknot, is one of his greatest assets and he hides it constantly under his paeraengi. It tickles his ears otherwise. He typically wears a blue jeondok and gray dongdari with his paeraengi. His face is extraordinarily handsome except for his eyes which resemble those of a tiger far too closely for most to find pleasant. His talisman is actually a thin black headband that usually hides beneath the concealment of his paeraengi. However, his ears are not quite so subtle. His human ears are normal enough. His black rabbit ears emerge out from under his paeraengi at the back like a pair of black shade flaps and extend down to just past his shoulder blades.

Spirit Forms:
Jade Rabbit's Descendant Form. In this form he can use his mortar and pestle but not his spear.



Mountain Hare Form. Small and compact, extraordinarily fast and nimble, this form allows him both subtlety and speed of travel. But, he cannot use either his spear or his mortar and pestle in this form.



Skills:

Capable with his spear but far from a master, Jin Yeong is not a warrior. Mostly fluent in defensive fighting and quite willing to use ignoble fighting techniques to gain distance, time, create an opening, or shamelessly flee, he has limited value in combat. It is the Mortar and Pestle magic of his mother's line that makes him a true asset of the guild.

He has learned a number of miscellaneous skills over the decades. He can cook, but not very well. He can clean, but he tends to do too much. He has also taken up ink painting and has some skill but while his work is lovely, it still shows some signs of the amateur. He keeps the completed ones locked away.

His calligraphy and style are masterful and he takes a meticulous delight in paperwork and orderly spaces wielding the brush with loving care and the broom and rag with zeal.

Powers:
Stamina of the Moon: Moonlight restores his stamina. He can run full rabbit scamper so long as the moon shines on him. He also can't grow tired or sleepy in moonlit areas.

Rhythm of Healing: Using Mortar and Pestle, pounds any medicinal or herbal substance into what medicine is desired. ((Medicines that raise the dead or grant immortality are beyond his power. Only the head of the family can make those.))

Rhythm of Sustenance: Using Mortar and Pestle, pounds any edible substance into however much staple food is needed. ((Greater variety can be attained by practicing but he hasn't practiced.))

Weapons/Equipment:

Mortar and Pestle (magical/summoned): Used for the powers from his mother's side.

Spear of Heaven's Lake (Artifact, gift from his father the Sansin of Baekdu): Can bring a sudden freeze to a large area and freeze those wounded by its blade from the inside out, very quickly. The area freeze only affects inanimate objects, covering them in ice and making them both slippery and resistant to burning.

Bio:

Born the son of an intense love between Hye Won, a daughter of the Jade Rabbit who makes the medicine of immortality for the gods and Jong Hyeon, the hidden Sansin of Baekdu Mountain, Jin Yeong holds a rather uncommon status. He is a full blooded god but, due to his parents' elopement, lacks any of the authority or prestige that that inheritance would normally provide. Because of the intensity of their love, his parents disregarded the prohibitions against the line of the Jade Rabbit wedding the gods of earth and secretly wed without any blessings or ceremonies. The Jade Rabbit was displeased by his daughter's disrespect but his duties kept him with the moon, unable to intervene in spite of his irritation and worry. Disregard for the prohibitions can invite terrible punishments.

Some little time passed and Hye Won came to be with child. She and her beloved husband expected the reputation of her pedigree to hold true and for the birth to produce numerous offspring with little effort. However, the pregnancy drained her and she fell gravely ill. When the time for labor came, the process was far more difficult than either had anticipated and only one small child emerged. This was seen as a sign that the universe was punishing them for their disrespect of the Jade Rabbit and propriety. The little boy was named Jin Yeong, due to the rarity of a single birth to a rabbit mother. His black coloring was also unusual. However, this rarity only added to the pressure of disapproval that weighed on his parents. It was especially difficult because it took nearly eleven years for Hye Won to finally recover. All these rare misfortunes were attributed to the improper union.

But, in the end, Hye Won's recovery and her subsequent healthy pregnancy, which produced four daughters, were seen as proof that the couple had paid the price for their injudicious behavior. Thenceforth they suffered no grave misfortunes, much to the relief of their families. Yet, things were not all well with their rapidly growing family. Their firstborn son had the patient rage of his father and the timidity of his mother. With this combination of traits his company grew rapidly unpalatable to either Jong Hyeon or the Jade Rabbit as he aged.

With the disapproval of both his father and grandfather, Jin Yeong strove to learn and grow as quickly as possible, studying intensely in order to minimize the strain that his presence caused. Then he waited for the proper time, leaving home as soon as was permitted, to make his way in the world on his own. Only the gifts that were given to him by his parents when he came of age accompanied him when he left the mountain. On his bed, he left a letter giving gratitude and respect to each member of his family for the many things they had taught him and giving them credit for all of his limited achievements, as it was only due to his family's dutiful aid that he achieved anything at all.

At the time of his departure, he had twenty-three sisters and eighteen brothers and his parents were well and strong.

As a Jade Rabbit, he lacks much of a fighting spirit and prefers to either avoid conflict or settle it peacefully if at all possible. As a descendant of the Sansin of Baekdu Mountain, he is fearless when angered and patient in revenge. He is also mildly Confucian in his thinking and insists on following certain formalities in his dealings with others. It is this combination of traits that led him to the guild of his own volition.

The prospect of applying social pressure to diminish the conflict between humans and the other beings of the world was too tempting a prospect. With so little expected of him by any of his family or their acquaintances, he was free to choose his own goals and methods without reference to any other person or power but his own principles.

Due to his specific array of talents and limited powers, most of his missions for the guild have involved message carrying, medicine, food, or deftly handling the intricate subtleties of the paperwork and bureaucracy. In fact, he may be the only person in the guild who actually enjoys having a desk of paperwork to come back to.

[Zombehs]

Sorta Red Oni

Name: Ryuki, “Mount Oroi's Crimson Ape” and “Vermillion Guardian”
Race: Simian Oni
Age: 84
Gender: Male

Appearance: In his human guise, Ryuki is 5’11” and 183 lbs. His skin is slightly tanned, hair a dull red, and eyes a bright green. It’s hard to tell with the length of his hair, but a pair of small horns are present on his forehead. His regular attire is rather strange in this land, and shaped by what he remembers from vague tales he heard quite some time ago. His talisman is the pair of glasses that also seem to manifest whenever he assumes a human form. The one thing he does have to carry around are his weapons which are an one-edged sword about the size of an odachi and an axe meant to be wielded in one hand.

As a Spirit, Ryuki is far more intimidating sight. Usually he plants his hands on the ground and as a result his posture is hunched over. Even then he’s just shy of 7’, and when he stands straight up he’s about 8’3 or so. At just over 375 lbs. he’s literally just muscle and bone. His skin’s texture is described as rocky, while the white fur is likened to silken metal.

His horns are more unusual than impressive. Incredibly thin, they curve up and outward from Ryuki’s forehead for just over a foot. While touchable at the base, the tips of his horns glow almost white hot and will quickly incinerate those without protection. Thankfully the heat seems very much contained and doesn’t seem to transfer unless another organism touches them.

Skills
Drinker & Brewer: Holds his liquor like it’s nobody’s business and also a fairly competent brewer. His homemade stuff tends to be rather weak, for an oni at the least, and focuses more on the taste. Call him a juice maker though and he’ll bring out the batches that are basically poison for regular humans.

Green Thumbs: To that end, he’s also a got a fairly good green thumb in either of his forms. The mountain sides of Oroi yielded quite the variety of fruit while he made his home there, and he’s cultivated similar fruit fields around the guild.

Tranquility: A rather unbefitting skill of the supposedly boisterous race of Oni, but Ryuki is very skilled in the art of meditation. So much that he can actually enter into a trance where it can become hard to tell if he’s still alive as his breathing and heart rate slow to almost imperceptible levels.

Sinister Glasses: Somehow Ryuki has the developed a method that causes his glasses to gleam at the slightest adjustment. It doesn’t actually have much use, but looks rather nifty. Might frighten or unnerve those not used to it.

Powers
Oni Physiology: Exactly what it says on the tin. Even in his human guise, Ryuki is physically superior to mortals and effectively untouched by age or sickness. In his Spirit form, the disparity in physical traits is only magnified further and the rest of his supernatural abilities become available for use.

The World’s Flow: What allowed Ryuki to gain the title of Vermillion Guardian, it is the ability to immerse one’s self in their surrounding environments. To read the various flows of energy in the natural world around him and notice others that move through it. From his home atop Mount Oroi, he watched over and protected those that flocked to the area for the safety he offered against malevolent spirits. At the same time, in this state Ryuki seems to fade into his surroundings. It becomes incredibly difficult to focus on him despite his appearance, and supernatural methods are almost certain to outright fail.

Internal Forge: A blessing of fire that burns bright within Ryuki. While it doesn’t manifest as the ability to manipulate flames, he is able to manipulate his internal body temperature to dangerous levels. Darker shades of red indicate hotter temperatures, and he can increase it to such a degree that even metal will melt if touched for too long. Other effects include a heightened body temperature, the ability to ignore intense heat or cold, being the best portable heater before they’re even a thing, and other stuff of that manner.

Weapons/Equipment
Sword: A weird hybrid of katana and odachi that’s about halfway in length compared to the two styles. The blade is also considerably heavier, but doesn’t prove too problematic for Ryuki to use.

Axe: Normally carried at the back of his waist. Designed to withstand use even in his Spirit form like his sword, but otherwise nothing unusual about it.

Bottomless Gourd: A treasure of immense value to Ryuki, it is a container that holds much more than its size alone would suggest. Rather plain, it is attached to a wide strap as its contents remain heavy as ever.

Bio: Childhood wasn’t really a thing for Ryuki. He sort of just materialized one day atop Mount Oroi with a vague understanding of the world he had been born into. In a fashion most un-oni-like, he sat down to try and puzzle things out rather than obey the instinctual urges. His awareness expanded and for how long he stayed like that, the Spirit could not be certain.

Eventually the ceaseless dance between lights and shadows beneath him, along with his own urges, spurred him to descend. Naturally when his first appearance at the village inspired quite a bit of terror and panic, and that whetted his appetite just fine. The piss poor performance of the town guards though, exhausted as they were by attacks from other Spirits killed the mood though and left him rather disappointed.

In a fortunate turn of events for the surrounding settlements, another Spirit also decided to try their luck with that village that night. For a moment it seemed he was content to leave the villagers to their fate, but then it clicked. If the humans could not put up a fight, then maybe this creature would instead. It wasn’t his intention to protect them, merely a side-effect of his desire for a challenge, but the humans did not question their savior, even if it was only through coincidence. A celebration was held in his honor, and though confused, he quickly learnt that the cuisine of humans might very well be better than the cooks themselves. Maybe. He didn’t really know since he had never ate a human before.

Suffice to say, but news spread quickly and soon enough the humans from around the mountain regularly made the trek up for his aid. It wasn’t a bad arrangement, and for a few years he simply lazed about in that manner. Eventually he decided to take a more proactive role and began to experiment with the abilities he had. His awareness slowly expanded until he sensed other Spirits and sought them out before they could attack the human settlements. The requests for aid became less and less common as he prevented attacks in the first place, and soon they simply arrived with offerings and to spend time.

His attention turned to other pursuits when Mount Oroi was established as his territory with only the occasional challenge. The mountainside forest became lush with various fruits, and it was rumored that the smell of liquor and spirits infused the very earth where Ryuki lived. It was also somehow agreed on by the various villages that benefited from his protection that his name was to be Ryuki. He doesn’t quite remember how it came to be, but did accept it.

All in all things were good, and then one day members from Yatsuragiha came for him. It was actually fairly touching that the village guards barred them from his home. While he could not say he tired of his self-appointed task, the chance to see more of the world did interest Ryuki. He had never assumed a human guise in all his life, and the talisman provided proved quite helpful. He bid the various village heads farewell, ensured he would come back to check on them, and departed with the guild’s members.

[KuramaaaZ]

How do I delete my pooost

[AtomicNut]

Woof

Name: Shiro, "Not-a-Fox" and "Stupid Dog" by some people who want to provoke him.

Race: Ookami (Spirit Wolf)

Age: 135

Gender: Male

Appearance: He wears his brand in a choker around his neck.

human-ish

Spirit Wolf

Skills:

Hunter - A wolf spirit is tasked to keep malicious spirits at bay and punish evildoers. It is also expected to get their own sustenance. As such, Shiro is versed in the art of stalking, attacking and devouring all sorts of preys, be it beast, human or spirit. With keen senses, tracking skills, patience and stamina, he can keep at it for days or even weeks.

Perceptive- Shiro has a knack for noticing little details or when something or someone doesn't quite fit. He can read emotions and gestures rather proficiently.

Great Tengu Karate - Having superior senses and keen fighting instincs, Shiro found difficult to acquire and much less develop formal fighting training if he stuck to the human fighting styles. The wolf spirit sought the help of great supernatural battlemasters in order to refine his primal flurry of claws, tackles and bites, and the Great Tengu's techniques suited his supernatural swiftness and toughness. He can no longer just claw, but use fists, kicks and spear-hands to great effect, being able to punch through stone and even dent metal. He can throw opponents way bigger than him over his head, and lift boulders several times heavier than himself. He's gotten so ridiculously fast and tough he can fight human sword fighters with his bare claws toe-to-toe, and even put pressure on warlike spirits like Tengus or Onis.
Still, he is far from a master of such an art, and as such he will lose against most elder, combat ready monsters, or really skilled and resourceful humans.

Unyielding Spirit - A wolf goes down fighting, no matter how grim or tough are the circumstances. Shiro will keep getting up no matter how many times he's knocked down.

Powers:
Ookami Physiology - As a wolf spirit, Shiro is tougher, faster and has keener senses than humans do. He has keen sight in the dark, as well as much greater hearing and smell, matching that of dogs and wolves. He's also tougher than a lot of animal spirits aswell. And he can howl.

Trailmaster - Shiro can balance and climb even the most impractible surfaces, although for rougher surfaces he isn't very subtle about it.

Spiritual Barrier - In the dual role of slayer and protector, Shiro can deploy a barrier that will make other spirits reluctant to enter the vicinity, and even make it harder to land magical attacks in the specified location as long as he keeps his concentration. The barrier also alerts himself of the point of intrusion.

Power Slash - By concentrating his chi, or spiritual energy, Shiro can turn his otherwise short ranged claw attack in a blue energy burst that travels through a distance, shredding everything in his path. A technique that still requires refinement, it's rather slow, awkward, and can only be used as a claw attack. Best used as finisher.

Shiro has probably talent for more spiritual skills and sorceries, but he hasn't tapped that yet.

Weapons/Equipment: Claws,bite and body - Shiro's entire body is as hard as a rock given the training he's been through. His claws match the sharpness and durability of steel, and his bite can even tear off armor and snap blades in two.

Bio: Shiro was born as the runt of the litter. Since from a young age, his environment drove in him the need and resolved to work steadfast and the importance of strength, for his very survival was at stake. Shiro grew detached and distant with the world as his strenght grew, and the problems he once found to even exist, lessened. But he never forgot what it meant to be helpless and weak.

He spent most of his youth in the woods, hunting malicious spirits and nourishment, and punishing the once and there evildoer that was unlucky to start trouble in his hunting grounds. He grew arrogant and conceited, and thought for a time his strenght protected him against everything. Until some fox spirits, whom he had a cordial relationship as fellow signs of fortune for a town until that point, tricked him into attacking some livestock with illusions.

He was nearly killed by a bunch of humans with pitchforks, and left for dead. An ignoble end for such a fair beast. But then someone took pity on him.

A Great Tengu, who lived in the mountain, and couldn't help but laugh at the poor bastard's luck. Knowing full well the downfalls of pride (as Tengu are very prideful), he gave him a lecture, before patching Shiro up and fleeing the place, his deed of the day done.

Shiro's eyes opened. He needed to learn more. He was just a little ignorant wolf in the wide world, and that grand, majestic spiritual being seemed a good source to learn more. So, he set out in a journey towards the mountain where that Great Tengu dwelt, determined to become his disciple. The journey wasn't easy. After being lost and duped a second time by foxes, a third time by a nekomata, and a fourth time by a tanuki who felt like it, he managed to reach and climb a high mountain where his would be master was.

The crow spirit was at first reluctant, but after showing his courage and determination (Shiro kept being kicked down the mountain only for him to crawl back up, much to the Tengu's annoyance) he accepted his plea of help, and the wolf spirit submitted himself to rigorous training.

After some time, the Tengu esteemed that Shiro needed to see the wide world to hone his skills even further (or was actually tired with the charade, who knows), so the strenghtened ookami climbed down the mountain. It was then when he was caught in a crossfire between fox spirits and the human organization known as Yasuratgiha.

Initially at odds with the humans, taking the side of the youkai (even if they were dastardly foxes) he fought tenaciously and managed to stall them for a time, until further peeking revealed the foxes had been the ones to start the mischief. Dragging them along to the humans, he apologized, and he was offered a chance to join the organization.

They had ballsy ideals, so he thought he would give it a shot. He would see different people and hone his skills. And so he became part of the family. He is mostly a no-nonsense individual, who appreciates discipline and courage, and despises tricksters (specially shapeshifters, and SPECIALLY SPECIALLY foxes. His wolf side also reacts to cats, funnily enough). He hasn't gotten a hang of human etiquette fully, so he can come sometimes as brusque and bloodthirsty, and of course, he has yet to understand the concept of covering his torso.

[sakurasan]

--

[Blight Bug]

Guan Du Xiu Ru, Lady of the Liaohaou Opera Troupe

Name: Guan Du Xiu Ru, Lady of the Liaohou Opera Troupe

Race: Human

Age: 23

Gender: Female

Appearance

Skills:
Singing - Lady Guan Du has been training in singing from a very early age. She is capable in singing in various ranges and has a rather beautiful voice.

Acrobatics/Dance - Besides song, Ru has been practicing in the acrobatic arts. Primarily this has been done for dance and high-flying routines by rope swinging.

Stage Fighting - Xiu Ru has not trained in fighting techniques proper. However there are certain roles where she needed to play various manners of fighter. She is able to portray fake fighting and make it look believable.

Hostess - Lady Guan Du has not neglected the art of being a proper hostess. She knows how to properly set up the environment for different occasions, is good at cleaning and can make adequate dishes when it is called for.

Powers:
Songbook of Harmonious Qi -Through the use of vocal incantation of song, Lady Ru can tap into the life force of the universe to achieve effects. Of course such effects only persist as long as the song keeps going. Lady Guan Du Xiu Ru can currently perform such pieces with a magical intent such as...

• Hymn of the Golden Crane: With a sense of quickness, Lady Ru can sing the uplifting hymn. By singing this song, Guan Du is granted the ability of speedy flight, and gleams with the the light of the golden feathers.
• War Chant of the Tiger Emperor: Taking a darker turn, Ru can sing the slow and methodical piece of the Tiger. By singing this song, Ru and allies have their physical strength and durability increased.
• Melody of the Dragon Sage: With a set of dreamy pitches, Ru sings the soft musings of the Dragon Sage. Through this song, she can heal the wounds of those injured. This song heals ailments such as stab wounds, cut flesh and other somewhat minor conditions. It is unable to heal really severe injuries like limb loss and full body impalement.

Weapons: None

Equipment:
Backpack - It is a large backpack, to hold things in.

Seven spare Qipaos (and silk facial masks) - Lady Ru always keeps sets of spare clothing.

Hand-fan - A Lady must be comfortable, and a hand-fan is quite useful for keeping cool.

Bio: Lady Guan Du Xiu Ru is a consummate professional when it comes to her craft, making sure each performance is the best it can be. Yet Ru has a humble and dignified nature, and as such chooses to not revel in the limelight. When attention is focused to her off-stage, Lady Guan tends to shift it to others who were a part of it. Ru is a kind-hearted individual who enjoys serving and helping others.

Her story begins in the Karahai Peaks, a fertile region known for being the source of legendary tasting pears. Guan Du Xiu Ru had a simple life being groomed like her three other sisters.

The intriguing part of this stage of her life is when the Liaohou Opera Troupe came to town. She was awed by the magnificent of the male and female actors who performed incredible feats. As they were preparing to leave, young Ru begged her father and mother to let her talk to one of the actresses.

Fortunately they allowed Ru to speak to one of them. Xiu Ru desperately tried to impress her through song. The troupe member saw the potential in the young girl and asked her parents if they would allow her to join the troupe. Through much discussion, the parents agreed to the request.

And so, Guan Du Xiu Ru began to learn the ways of the troupe. Throughout her travels with the organization, the Liaohou Opera House Troupe had the pleasure of entertaining many Guild members. Xiu Ru was finding herself drawn to the Guild. After a few more performances and lessons she gave to younger members of the troupe, she headed off to join the Order.

[RainbowReindeer]

Boop

Appearance&Description

Eri stands around 5'8" and has a muscular build. She has dark brown hair and eyes.

Name: Eri
Race: Human
Age: 26
Gender: Female

Skills:
Sōjutsu - The art of the spear. Sōjutsu techniques include blocks, thrusts/stabs and slashing attacks. Eri was taught by the very best and has honed her skill through hard-work.

Fighting Instincts - She doesn't just poke things. Eri will use every inch of her body to fight including head-butting and punching. She's quick on her feet and stays cool and collected during tough battles.

Powers:
kyubey OP - She's secretly a magical girl! Eri's got a good head on her shoulders!

Weapons/Equipment:
Yari - Double edged spear point attached to a shaft with a typical overall length of about 6 feet. Eri keeps Tanuki's spear strapped onto her back.

Bio:
Eri is an amiable person who keeps her real feelings locked away. She speaks and laughs freely, and is known to be brutally honest and ever-enduring. She does not complain, or whine, or wish for a better life and chooses to look at the present. However, Eri does not form attachments easily. To those who manage to worm their way inside her heart, expect lots of shy love.

She doesn't know who or where her parents are but Eri could care less about them. Around the age of five, she was picked up by a wandering spear-wielder who she called Tanuki because he was the type of person who liked to play tricks on everyone. Tanuki had a penchant for picking up stray kids off the street and teaching them how to handle the spear. Why? At the time, Eri didn't care. She finally had a place to call home.

It wasn't until she turned seventeen when she realized what Tanuki's true intentions were. The old man was plagued with regret and despair after killing so many during his mercenary days. He thought it would be a great idea to become a father figure to a child and have him or her kill him in a duel when the time came.

Eri was the only one who seemed to have a natural fighting talent, so she was the one chosen for the task. But, much to Tanuki's chagrin, Eri beat him and refused to deal the killing blow. The girl had tears and snot streaming down her face as she kept saying "Stupid Tanuki, you're my father!" before kicking him in the face, knocking him out. When Tanuki woke up, he woke up a changed man. Since then, Eri has been travelling with Tanuki, exploring distant lands together.

He died of old age when Eri turned twenty-four. She was heart-broken but happy that Tanuki lived the last years of his life happily. Now a lost spirit, she joined the Guild in hopes of finding a goal.

[Verdaux]

The Import

Name

Wang En (忘恩) | "En"

Race

Yaoguai - Harvest Spirit

Age

135

Gender

Female

Appearance

Spirit Form

Human Form

Human Form
En comes off as decidedly barbaric, if such a world like this could even be bothered with imperialism in the scope of things between spirits, human politics, and a mad grab for resources whenever, wherever. She stands at a tall(ish) 5'10, and weighs somewhere around 150 lbs., give or take the enormous quantities of grain she'll eat given the opportunity and resources. Neither end of her weight range change the fact that she has quite a robust build. From her heritage comes her marble skin-tone, which has remained so because of her preference to her spirit form. Her rigors have left stains on her spine with slightly darker, smooth splotches of skin, proof of her failure to retain her freedom. She has, like many "imports", a kind of fire in her golden eyes, like that of a dying coal stoked by a wayward puff of air. Anger, among many other things, seem to drive her. One need only take a glance at her constantly furrowed brows.
Her brand is a single amethyst fused with the flesh at her tailbone. The burns form the characters : 奴隸. Slave.

Skills

Canine - Tracking via scent, as most canines do.
Wrestling - Subduing with tackles, wrestling, and throws (though technique is nowhere close to being refined). Faintly mimics Kuai Jiao (快跤) wrestling in how aggressive the fighter must be, with a strong emphasis on leg-sweeps to lead into solid locks.
Agriculture - Not this kind of plowing, but you know what I mean. Did I mention farming in general? Weeding, fertilizing, fallowing, irrigation, and more are part of her skillset, thanks to observing the farmers that once paid tribute to her.
Thievery - Believe it or not, the Harvest dogs have become better at being light on their feet since the removal of their other eight tails. Inherent wisdom, perhaps? As each tail is gained, stealth becomes more difficult, as En's human form will begin to weigh more.
Striptease - "I-it was only for a year! Don't look at me like th-that!" >///<

Powers

En has the ability to force plants to age and grow faster than normal, though this comes at the cost of burning whatever energy is stored in her Spirit Form. As such, most of her kind undergo a cycle of extreme malnutrition and gluttony, so as to maintain balance in their population through the annual harvest seasons. She's had few opportunities in a while to use this power, though, as there is no precision; just as there is little hope to dam up a fast-melting glacier, there is little hope to restrain her power when unleashed.
En also can 'regain' eight other tails, though to keep them in permanence requires double of her current body weight. Temporary recollection is one-tenth the amount for one tenth the ability's duration. The tail progression follows as so :

---

Second - Consume double the body mass in spirit form; ability to encourage certain traits in plants to grow instantly, such as more flowers, more fruits, slightly harder wood, etc.
Third - Consume quadruple the body mass in spirit form; freely transform from spirit to human without any loss of the first three tails.
Fourth - Consume eight-fold body mass in spirit form; change temperatures in the immediate area (a maximum of a half-acre's radius for four hours).
Fifth - Consume 16-fold body mass in spirit form; change the properties of fallowing earth (make the dirt more sludgy, or dry and packed, etc.) in an acre's span.
Six - Consume 16-fold body mass in spirit form; change weather in a square mile for up to four hours.
Seventh - Consume 32-fold body mass in spirit form; level the earth up to 20 meters.
Eighth - Consume 128-fold body mass in spirit form; reproduce.
Ninth - 256-fold body mass in spirit form; entry into the heavens. Walking in the air is also possible. The first tail becomes white and drops wild rice seeds on occasion. No tails are consumed when transforming from one form into another.
Note : The consumption mass counter resets for every tail gained; consumed mass amount is halved upon exiting and re-entering spirit form.

---

En can, alternatively, grow extra arms out of any part of her body, the strength of which corresponds to the same scale as regrowing tails, though the scale maximizes at the equivalent of the seventh tail (the resulting arm would be larger than her body already; anything more would be too cumbersome for any practical usage).

Weapons/Equipment

- Kusarigama - Only for the last resort, or for a good cutting tool / grappling hook.
- Japanese Elm seeds - Gifted to people she favors. It's surprisingly hardier than its naturally occurring equivalents.
- Bamboo Shoots - Used to grow vantage points incredibly quickly, and makes for good toothpicks, chopsticks, and cutlery.

Bio

Legends once spoke of a nine-tailed dog stealing the seeds from heaven to help humanity develop agriculture, only to lose eight of those tails in its escape. The remaining one tail, though, had trapped the seeds inside its fur, and so humans could farm staple crops.

En, a descendant of said dog, had lived in relative with her small village (安徽) in the north parts of the mainland, save for a couple of territorial disputes. Of few of the village children, however, made the mistake of roaming too far towards the south, and so stumbled upon a wayward monk, one of those warrior-types that went around expelling and destroying anything that wasn't human to fulfill his self-righteous hubris. Upon hearing the news of a resident spirit "haunting" the village, said monk made his way over to "exorcise" the creature; he did not differentiate anything supernatural from what he claimed were "guai". En, on the way with birthing a child, could do little to stop him as her fields were burned and diseased. The villagers that once paid her homage had stopped meeting her. It took perhaps a few days and a few nights for the monk and a few discontent villagers to finally reach her. The monk, quite simply, tore the little one from her womb and expelled it from this world, back into the unknown. The exhaustion, compounded with the emotional shock that had followed, brought her into unconsciousness.

When she came back to, weeks later, she found her brand burned into her skin. She was chained in the steppes, the monk gone. The same could be said for anything that resembled her temple; all that remained was a group of sleazy young men, dragging all kinds of spirits too. Since then, she's alternated between farmer, laborer, liaison, and even once a literal whore. Her life has been dragged through many an owner, and for the longest of times, she hadn't had the slightest idea as to where she would end up next. Sure, she'd try to escape from time to time, and maybe she got as far as the next town before some monk or priest tracked her down and pummeled her back into submission. It came to the point where she simply resigned on the idea of escaping, and conceded herself to disgruntled servitude.

She was purchased by a prominent lord, following the new laws that came, to supplant the few elderly rice farmers left in the area, and so has remained a fixture of the guild ever since its establishment as goodwill. She usually oversees the fields the guild is in possession of, but with the demand raising ever-higher to have more participating Blades than farmers, she has been re-assigned to hunting down fellows spirits and humans.

Considering most spirits usually aren't forcibly locked into servitude, she considers most spirits opposed to the branding pansies. She's been through worse, which may be cause for her to sympathize. Unlike most spirits that prefer to speak in riddles and hints, En has all but forsaken the cryptic vernacular to speak plainly, even to the point where she comes off as rather blunt and easy to read. While hard and heavy-handed, she shows genuine concern for her targets, as she disliked the branding as much as they did at one time. Humans, unfortunately, do not get the same attention since she finds them frustrating in the way "how they demand change of the world, but rarely change themselves". She's tired of changing for others, at this point.